Vehicle-signal.



H. R. KENNEDY.

VEHICLE SIGNAL.

APPLICATIONjlLED 1AN.30.1915.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

A 07722) f2 ZIZIZeZ y L ii HOMER R. KENNEDY, OF LQS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mina. ili, 1916.,

Application filed January 30, 1915. Serial No. 5,205.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOMER RI Kan NEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Signal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle signals, and has for its primary object to provide a signal which is electrically operated and which is especially designed for use on automobiles, but which is also applicable to other vehicles, and which will indicate that the automobile or other vehicle is about to turn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple vehicle signal or direction indicator having a hollow semaphore at tached to a rotatable armature so that when a circuit is closed, the semaphore will be turned by the armature to indicate that the course of the vehicle is about to be changed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an automobile equipped with a pair of my signals. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the semaphore showing the electromagnet and armature in elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the signal with the semaphore shown in section. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the signal with the parts thereof shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is a top plan view with the semaphore shown in section. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the armature in the position it assumes when the electromagnet is energized. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view with the magnet omitted. Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates an automobile} 2 the fenders thereof, and 3 the signals. The signals are identical in construction and therefore a detail description of only one will be given. Each signal comprises a hollow semaphore 4 preferably-made of sheet metal, and consisting of an elongated body open at its bottom Y and closed by a wall 5 at its top. -The side walls are cut away to form the open indicating arrows 6, and the letters 7 making the word Turn. This semaphore is mounted upon an armature generally designated 8. 'Ihe armature comprises an elongated base 9, which fits into the semaphore L to engage a rlb 10. Integrally on the base are formed the standards 11 and 12, and concavoconvex plates 13 are formed on the respective standards and are opposed to one another forming somewhat of a chamber 14. A. tubular shaft 15 extends upwardly through a central opening 16 formed in the base of the armature and an electromagnet 17 is fixed to this shaft. The magnet is stationary within the chamber 14 and when energized will cause the armature to turn through an arc of about ninety degrees so as to bring the standards 11 and 12 into alinement with the poles of the magnet.

To return the semaphore to its normal position, a coil spring 19 is provided, one end of the spring being rigidly secured to the armature and the other end being fixed to the shaft 15. A stop pin 20 extends upwardly from the magnet adjacent its vertical center and is engaged by a spur 21 formed on a cross bar 22 which is connected to the upper ends of the standards 11 and 12. When the spur 21 swings into engagement with the pin 20, due to the action of the coil spring 19, the signal is brought to a positive stop in the position shown on the right hand side of Fig. 1.

To illuminate the semaphore so that the indicating characters may be visible at night, electric lamps 23 are provided and these lamps are preferably mounted upon the armature bars 9 near the ends thereof.

The shaft 15 is connected to a clamp member 24 which clamp member is connected to a second clamp member 25 by means of a screw 26, and this second clamp member 25 is adapted to be rigidly attached to the fender 2 or to other suitable sup orting means. By means of the clamp mem ers 24 and 25 the signal may be secured to a sloping surface and be adjusted so as to maintain the shaft 15 in a vertical position.

In Fig. 8 I have shown one system of wiring which may be employed. When the double throw switch 27 is swung to the left, a circuit will be closed from the battery 28 through the coil 29 of the left hand signal. The path of the current may be traced as follows: from the battery through the wire 30, switch 31, wire 32, to the coil, and then through the wire 33 and wire 34 back to the battery. When it is desired to energize the right hand signal the switch is thrown to the right to close the circuit, and the current will then flow from the battery through the Wire 30, switch 27, wire 35, to the coil 36 of the right hand signal, and then through the wire 37 and Wire 34 back to the battery. The lamps 23 are preferably connected in parallel, as shown, and if desired, buzzer-s or bells 38 may also be employed and connected in parallel, as shown.

What I claim is:

1. In a signal of the character described, an armature rotatable about a vertical shaft, an electromagnet rigidly secured to said shaft, the armature being provided with metallic standards which are drawn in alinement with the poles of the magnet when the latter is energized, spring means to return the armature to normal position when the magnet is deen'ergized, means for checking the movement of the armature in response to said spring means, and a hollow semaphore carried by the armature and incasing the electromagnet and standards.

2. In a signal an armature rotatable upon an upright shait, an electromagnet rigidly secured to the shaft, said armature comprising opposed upright metallic members which are drawn into alinement with the poles of the magnet when the latter is energized, concavoconvex plates carried by the upright members and extending through an are therefrom in opposite directions, means for returning the armature to normal position when the magnet is deenergized, and a semaphore carried by the armature.

3. In a signal of the character described, a vertical shaft, an armature rotatable upon the shaft, a stationary electromagnet carried by the shaft, said armature comprising ropposed upright metal members adapted to be drawn into alinement with the poles of the magnet when the latter is energized, means to return the armature to normal position when the magnet is denergized, and a hollow semaphore carried by the armature and incasing the upright members and magnet.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 16th day of January, 1915.

HOMER R. KENNEDY. In presence of- Ronxnr M. SMITH, Lona M. Bownns. 

